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Any singers here?

Superfly

Superfly

Salty, defiant, and completely non-compliant.
DP Veteran
Joined
Jul 27, 2011
Messages
54,807
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43,139
Location
From Tucson to Tucumcari, Tehachapi to Tonopah
Gender
Female
Political Leaning
Independent
I have an odd issue going on, and if there are any singers here, I'd love some advice.

OK. Not meaning to pat myself on the back, but I used to be one hell of a singer. Won awards, had benefactors want to back me in a singing career, etc. I had decent range, and loved to sing almost anything.

Then I got married LOL. My husband and I have had many shouting matches, and my voice, I am afraid, has become damaged. What worries me is that it might be permanent.

I was never very good at soprano, but I killed on mezzo-soprano and contralto. Had a mid-range to low-range voice. Now all I can sing is contralto. My voice cracks any time I try to sing anything higher than contralto, and sometimes it even cracks on contralto.

This has been going on for years, and this is why I think my damage is permanent. Is there any non-surgical way that this can be repaired? Would practice help? I have tried to "power through" songs that I used to be able to sing, that I can no longer, and it's just cracked and sounds terrible.
 
Superfly said:
I have an odd issue going on, and if there are any singers here, I'd love some advice.

OK. Not meaning to pat myself on the back, but I used to be one hell of a singer. Won awards, had benefactors want to back me in a singing career, etc. I had decent range, and loved to sing almost anything.

Then I got married LOL. My husband and I have had many shouting matches, and my voice, I am afraid, has become damaged. What worries me is that it might be permanent.

I was never very good at soprano, but I killed on mezzo-soprano and contralto. Had a mid-range to low-range voice. Now all I can sing is contralto. My voice cracks any time I try to sing anything higher than contralto, and sometimes it even cracks on contralto.

This has been going on for years, and this is why I think my damage is permanent. Is there any non-surgical way that this can be repaired? Would practice help? I have tried to "power through" songs that I used to be able to sing, that I can no longer, and it's just cracked and sounds terrible.
Click to expand...

Overall, I would say that if you don't sing regularly anymore, you can't immediately go back to the way you used to sing. If by "power through" songs you mean that you're straining your vocal chords, I don't think that's a good idea at all. I would contact a vocal coach and see if they can help you. Or heck - there are probably youtube videos where you can follow along with a vocal coach doing the scales going up a half-step everytime until you feel your voice straining. Try to practice them daily to see if you can improve and get back to mezzo-soprano level. You also want to avoid drinks that will dry out or irritate your throat like coffee or sodas or citrus drinks.
 
Josie said:
Overall, I would say that if you don't sing regularly anymore, you can't immediately go back to the way you used to sing. If by "power through" songs you mean that you're straining your vocal chords, I don't think that's a good idea at all. I would contact a vocal coach and see if they can help you. Or heck - there are probably youtube videos where you can follow along with a vocal coach doing the scales going up a half-step everytime until you feel your voice straining. Try to practice them daily to see if you can improve and get back to mezzo-soprano level. You also want to avoid drinks that will dry out or irritate your throat like coffee or sodas or citrus drinks.
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Thanks, Josie. I don't know if I can give up my Diet Coke. I gave up hookers and coke already. Don't know if I can give up soda. *sigh*
 
Superfly said:
Thanks, Josie. I don't know if I can give up my Diet Coke. I gave up hookers and coke already. Don't know if I can give up soda. *sigh*
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I know what you mean. It's irritating, though, and definitely affects your voice. Once you get back up to where you're comfortable with your singing voice, it would be cool to hear you. :)
 
Josie said:
I know what you mean. It's irritating, though, and definitely affects your voice. Once you get back up to where you're comfortable with your singing voice, it would be cool to hear you. :)
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thanks, luv. I will if I can get back there. My husband and I met online, 21 years ago. Before we actually met "in person," I used to record mp3s to him and would send them to him. I'd love to be able to do that again for him. It's been years. Plus I miss the release of being able to just belt out higher range songs.
 
Superfly said:
thanks, luv. I will if I can get back there. My husband and I met online, 21 years ago. Before we actually met "in person," I used to record mp3s to him and would send them to him. I'd love to be able to do that again for him. It's been years. Plus I miss the release of being able to just belt out higher range songs.
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Maybe we could do a lil duet. ;)
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
;)
Why do I expect your voice will be as deep as Barry Whites

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:lol: Oh man, I love me some Barry White. I can't play your video, though, or I'd wake up everybody in the house dancing around, and singing (badly). :lol:

No, it's not that low. My husband told me it's more of a smoky barroom low.
 
Superfly said:
I have an odd issue going on, and if there are any singers here, I'd love some advice.

OK. Not meaning to pat myself on the back, but I used to be one hell of a singer. Won awards, had benefactors want to back me in a singing career, etc. I had decent range, and loved to sing almost anything.

Then I got married LOL. My husband and I have had many shouting matches, and my voice, I am afraid, has become damaged. What worries me is that it might be permanent.

I was never very good at soprano, but I killed on mezzo-soprano and contralto. Had a mid-range to low-range voice. Now all I can sing is contralto. My voice cracks any time I try to sing anything higher than contralto, and sometimes it even cracks on contralto.

This has been going on for years, and this is why I think my damage is permanent. Is there any non-surgical way that this can be repaired? Would practice help? I have tried to "power through" songs that I used to be able to sing, that I can no longer, and it's just cracked and sounds terrible.
Click to expand...

Practice, practice, practice.

My wife and I both sing, and one thing I have noticed is that it takes longer to get warmed up these days.
 
Superfly said:
I have an odd issue going on, and if there are any singers here, I'd love some advice.

OK. Not meaning to pat myself on the back, but I used to be one hell of a singer. Won awards, had benefactors want to back me in a singing career, etc. I had decent range, and loved to sing almost anything.

Then I got married LOL. My husband and I have had many shouting matches, and my voice, I am afraid, has become damaged. What worries me is that it might be permanent.

I was never very good at soprano, but I killed on mezzo-soprano and contralto. Had a mid-range to low-range voice. Now all I can sing is contralto. My voice cracks any time I try to sing anything higher than contralto, and sometimes it even cracks on contralto.

This has been going on for years, and this is why I think my damage is permanent. Is there any non-surgical way that this can be repaired? Would practice help? I have tried to "power through" songs that I used to be able to sing, that I can no longer, and it's just cracked and sounds terrible.
Click to expand...

I think for we women with lower native singing voices, being out of practice makes a HUGE difference in our range even if we don't have vocal damage.

I mean, unless you were screaming at him literally every day, I highly doubt you permanently damaged your voice by doing that. Keep in mind, there are metal singers who do that scream-grunt thing every night, and it still takes 10 years before they have any permanent vocal damage (longer if they're actually doing it correctly, from the diaphragm, but most of them don't).

I think it's more likely your loss of range comes from two things.

1. Just plain old lack of practice. I'm a natural contralto who used to be able to do first soprano if I felt like it. I could hit and hold that high note in Phantom of the Opera. These days, I've lost probably half my range simply due to lack of use. Like I said, I think this is commonly the case for women with natural ranges that are on the lower end.

2. Time. Everyone's voice drops a bit over the years. Think about it: have you ever met an 80-year-old with a high voice, like some 20-year-olds you may hear? Vocal shift isn't just a phenomenon of puberty; that's merely when the biggest change happens in the shortest time. But our voices keep changing -- and ultimately, dropping -- throughout our lives.

That said, I'm sure practice would bring back a lot of your range, and probably relatively quickly if you have good vocal habits. Just remember to give it enough breath, stay hydrated, and keep your vocal chords open.

Also, listen to Josie. I've heard her sing, and she's great.
 
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Superfly said:
I have an odd issue going on, and if there are any singers here, I'd love some advice.

OK. Not meaning to pat myself on the back, but I used to be one hell of a singer. Won awards, had benefactors want to back me in a singing career, etc. I had decent range, and loved to sing almost anything.

Then I got married LOL. My husband and I have had many shouting matches, and my voice, I am afraid, has become damaged. What worries me is that it might be permanent.

I was never very good at soprano, but I killed on mezzo-soprano and contralto. Had a mid-range to low-range voice. Now all I can sing is contralto. My voice cracks any time I try to sing anything higher than contralto, and sometimes it even cracks on contralto.

This has been going on for years, and this is why I think my damage is permanent. Is there any non-surgical way that this can be repaired? Would practice help? I have tried to "power through" songs that I used to be able to sing, that I can no longer, and it's just cracked and sounds terrible.
Click to expand...

You may have throat polyps or vocal cord nodules caused by shouting or straining too much. :( They can be removed, but may grow back. I know you said non surgical, but have a check to see if you even have them maybe. Drink a lot of water. Keep the cords hydrated! Daily warm ups and rest time. Probably know all this already :)
 
Superfly said:
My husband and I have had many shouting matches, and my voice, I am afraid, has become damaged.
What worries me is that it might be permanent.
Click to expand...

#1) you "shouted" so much at your husband that you might have damaged your vocal chords permanently??? :shock:

#2) go see a doctor
 
SmokeAndMirrors said:
I think for we women with lower native singing voices, being out of practice makes a HUGE difference in our range even if we don't have vocal damage.

I mean, unless you were screaming at him literally every day, I highly doubt you permanently damaged your voice by doing that. Keep in mind, there are metal singers who do that scream-grunt thing every night, and it still takes 10 years before they have any permanent vocal damage (longer if they're actually doing it correctly, from the diaphragm, but most of them don't).

I think it's more likely your loss of range comes from two things.

1. Just plain old lack of practice. I'm a natural contralto who used to be able to do first soprano if I felt like it. I could hit and hold that high note in Phantom of the Opera. These days, I've lost probably half my range simply due to lack of use. Like I said, I think this is commonly the case for women with natural ranges that are on the lower end.

2. Time. Everyone's voice drops a bit over the years. Think about it: have you ever met an 80-year-old with a high voice, like some 20-year-olds you may hear? Vocal shift isn't just a phenomenon of puberty; that's merely when the biggest change happens in the shortest time. But our voices keep changing -- and ultimately, dropping -- throughout our lives.

That said, I'm sure practice would bring back a lot of your range, and probably relatively quickly if you have good vocal habits. Just remember to give it enough breath, stay hydrated, and keep your vocal chords open.

Also, listen to Josie. I've heard her sing, and she's great.
Click to expand...

No, I don't scream that much. Not even close. I just thought that, you know, that was why it happened.

And I guess it is another thing I lose with age. *sigh*

Thanks for the advice. :)
 
holbritter said:
You may have throat polyps or vocal cord nodules caused by shouting or straining too much. :( They can be removed, but may grow back. I know you said non surgical, but have a check to see if you even have them maybe. Drink a lot of water. Keep the cords hydrated! Daily warm ups and rest time. Probably know all this already :)
Click to expand...

Thanks - throat isn't sore and I don't feel anything when I swallow so maybe I am just out of practice.

But thanks for the info.
 
Superfly said:
Oh no. Don't tell me it's another one of those things I lose with age. :cry:
Click to expand...

I can't say for sure but I am pretty sure your voice goes deeper, hence the need for warming up.
 
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